Antonio Inoki HAO Collection Retirement Statue review

Today, we'll be looking at an extra special figure released by HAO
back in 2006. The Antonio Inoki "Fighting Spirit Legend" HAO
Collection Statue.

                       
Unlike most HAO figures which come in see-through clamshell packaging,
the Antonio Inoki Fighting Spirit Legend statue comes packaged in a black
cardboard box complete with a stylish photo of Inoki on the front.

The left corner of the packaging features Antonio Inoki's signature with the
inscription "闘魂" (Fighting Spirit) along with Inoki's ring name  "アントニ
オ猪木"" (Antonio Inoki). The bottom of the package reads "闘魂伝説"
(Fighting Spirit Legend) in red lettering.


                                   


HAO Collection's logo is prominently displayed at the top right corner.

The back of the package contains a latch at the top of the box to remove
the Inoki statue.

The writing on the back of the package reads "GSP" (Global Standard
Products) and "IMA Corporation" along with a website for the latter.

The packaging opens from the front to reveal the Inoki statue. Inoki's
"Fighting Spirit" signature (left) is also accompanied by "燃える闘魂" on
the right which reads "Burning Fighting Spirit" in Japanese.

Although it's hard to pick out, below the Inoki statue is a gold foil sticker which
reads "INOKI INC (C) 2006". This seal is found on all of Inoki's officially
endorsed products from the era.

The inside of the packaging contains a message from Antonio Inoki

that includes a printed graphic of a "Hanko" stamp with Inoki's
namesake.

Next to the message is a picture of Inoki from his retirement match

against Don Frye and a mini bio which reads:

ANTONIO INOKI

KANJI INOKI (Inoki's birth name)
190cm/102kg
1943 2 20 (February 20th, 1943)

Yokohoma, Kanagawa Prefecture

The inside of the packaging also mentions Inoki's Championship victories

from 1964 to 1987 as well as the dates the championships were won

and the opponents Inoki defeated.

                            

Unlike the majority of HAO figures which are made of soft vinyl, the
Fighting Spirit Inoki statue is made of Polystone.

                              

Inoki's signature fight towel is also included as a removable accessory (a
feature that is very rare for HAO figures and statues). The fabric fight towel
contains Inoki's Fighting Spirit signature in gold and white stitching; adding
a nice touch to this collectible.

Like other statues released by HAO, the Inoki statue contains an
attached black base.

HAO Collection also created similar Polystone statues for their "K-1
FIGHTER FIGURES" line banner with matching black bases.

Being both an iconic Pro-Wrestler and a notable Martial Artist, Inoki
is the only Pro-Wrestler from the HAO Collection to receive a 6 inch
K-1-esque statue treatment.

The Inoki statue features Inoki ready to fight with a clenched fist.

   

The intense look on Inoki's face is fully captured here. The design of
this statue itself is based on Inoki's final years as an active Pro-Wrestler.

HAO's distinctive art style is faithfully adapted into this medium as well.

The polystone material contains a glossy finish that helps the Inoki
statue stand out easily.


                             

The bottom of the statue's base contains the HAO Collection
logo and Inoki's Copyright.

Scale: when stood next to HAO Collection's VOL. 002 Stan Hansen figure.

                               
From the base, the Inoki statue stands 16.5cm tall (about 6.5" inches)
(half an inch higher than most figures from the line).


Closing thoughts:
From the stylish box to the sculpt of the state itself, I've always
loved this statue. Inoki's likeness is instantly recognizable and
the cloth fight towel is a splendid addition to this retirement
match commemorative.

Sadly, the Fighting Spirit Legend Antonio Inoki figure was the
only Pro-Wrestler given the 6" K-1 style statue treatment in
the HAO Collection; making this collectible a truly stand-alone
piece.

One can only imagine how other famous Wrestlers would have
looked like given HAO's statue treatment.

For those of you looking to purchase your own Antonio Inoki
HAO Collection statue on the secondhand market, I strongly
suggest looking over the condition of the statue itself (front,
back and bottom of the base) before making a purchase. Due to
the statue being fragile, there are many examples out there
with cracks, chips and staining on the polystone.